LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) – Gladiator groupies can brace themselves for more gore in the arena.

Starz has given its series “Spartacus” a go-ahead for a third season, the pay cable network announced on Monday.

The green light comes months ahead of the January 27, 2012, premiere of “Spartacus: Vengeance,” the second season of the “Spartacus” saga.

The as-yet-untitled third season is expected to begin production in New Zealand in early 2012. “Spartacus: Gods of the Arena,” which aired in January 2011, drew an estimated 6.2 million total viewers per episode when all linear channels and on-demand viewing are factored in.